Planning for life with Alzheimer’s includes selecting trusted family members or friends who can assist with legal and financial matters. It was at least three years after his diagnosis that comedic actor Gene Wilder revealed he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. This is not unusual, according to experts discussing his…
You know you need life insurance to protect your loved ones. But do you know that having a will is equally important to protect against risks? Without a will, your family faces a number of potential financial disasters. If you think you don’t need a will because you aren’t wealthy…
Think of an estate plan as a love letter to your family after you have passed. You’d be surprised at how many people you know don’t have a will or an estate plan in place. They may be among the many who have an unspoken belief that if they don’t…
Moving a lifetime of possessions in or out of the country is one thing, but moving money from country to country without losing it takes a new kind of financial planner. Whether you are retiring to a small cottage in the Cotswolds or coming home after a career that kept…
The old adage is right—a second marriage is indeed the triumph of hope over experience. Add estate planning to keep that hope—and peace in the family—intact. It’s a delicate balance to hold: preserving assets for children from a first marriage and—at the same time—ensuring that your new spouse will have…
Passing your home to your heirs can occur in a number of ways, depending upon your situation and your family. It’s not a do-it-yourself project—even in the simplest cases. If you own a home and want to leave it to your loved ones, there are steps you need to take…
A legislative change made the use of trusts less necessary for most Americans, but there are still many situations where this planning tool is the best option. When the American Taxpayer Relief Act became law, the $5 million exemption and the new rules on portability of the exemption for married…
We often hear about families who squander fortune; we hear less about families that preserve their wealth and values over generations. Successful entrepreneurs often struggle with estate planning when it comes to their children. Will knowledge of large inheritances to come create spoiled and unmotivated adults? How can wealth be…
Planning to leave an inheritance for your children requires a careful examination of all of your assets, and insurance could be part of that plan. Most couples use term insurance to help protect their loved ones pay the bills after they pass. A question answered in the NJ 101.5 article “Do…
Estate battles among high profile celebrities are all over the news, but can a regular person contest a will if they feel that they were unjustly treated? You may have seen a million movies where kids are cut out of a will, but when it happens to you or someone…